
Had Heart Attack. Prescribed Brilinta And Dilatren. Do I Need To Take These Medicines For A Year?

Question: About three weeks ago I was treated in Macau after i had a heart attack. The doctors may have prescribed a couple of medicines that I do not need. They prescribed Brilinta (ticagrelor as the blood thinner) and Dilatren (carvedilol as the beta blocker). They prescribed several other pills for me to take for more than 200 days. They are Tritace (ramipril to reduce hypertension), aspirin coated Cartia, Crestor (rosuvastatin to lower cholesterol), Inspra (eplerenone to reduce hypertension and prevent heart attacks) and Nexium (esomeprazole to reduce acid in the stomach). Do I need to take all of these that i listed above for nearly a year? Years ago I had problems with ulcers, maybe that is why they prescribed Nexium. I do not want to take Nexium or its substitute unless absolutely necessary for my heart condition. Nexium is very expensive. I already switched to Omeprazole Magnesium, which i'm told is basically the same but cheaper. I have not had any significant ulcer problems in years. Are there any of the listed prescribed medicines that the Macau doctors prescribed that are not necessary? I am now in mainland China where I work and cannot reach the doctors that treated me. Thanks a million. XXXXX
Hello! Thanks for putting your query in XXXXXXX I am a Gastroenterologist (DM).
There is increased risk of ulcer formation and ulcer related complication if patient is on NSAID (Non steroid anti-inflammatory drugs) and especially aspirin. So proton pump inhibitor is given as a prophylactic drug to prevent risk of ulcer formation and it's complications. So I will advise that is necessary to take a proton pump inhibitor especially when then there is history of Nexium is costly then you may take omeprazole.
I hope I have answered your query and this will help you. Remain in touch and get-well soon.
There is increased risk of ulcer formation and ulcer related complication if patient is on NSAID (Non steroid anti-inflammatory drugs) and especially aspirin. So proton pump inhibitor is given as a prophylactic drug to prevent risk of ulcer formation and it's complications. So I will advise that is necessary to take a proton pump inhibitor especially when then there is history of Nexium is costly then you may take omeprazole.
I hope I have answered your query and this will help you. Remain in touch and get-well soon.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

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